CAIT NISHIMURA: Golden Hour
The “golden hour” is the last hour of light before sunset. The early ideas for this piece came to me during a long drive from New York City to Toronto. We had left the NYC area in time to drive through the rolling hills of upstate New York during this magical time of day. We were treated to an incredible display of colours dancing among the clouds and golden light just pouring over the area and warming our faces. I let the ideas sit for several months, until experiencing a similar drive on the opposite side of the continent in Yosemite National Park. Driving up to the lookout at Glacier Point, we weren’t sure if we would make it to the top in time for sunset. It felt like a race against time, trying to ascend the steep mountain roads before the sun made its descent below the horizon. When we arrived at the lookout, it was as if the sky was on fire. The next few minutes led to a beautiful and calm glow before fading into dusk. The music in Golden Hour represents both of these memorable sunset experiences.
— Note by Cait Nishimura
FRANZ STRAUSS: Concerto in C Minor, op. 8
Franz Strauss was born in Bavaria, and was a horn player in the Bavarian court orchestra. He was much more well-known for his work as a performer than as a composer. He is known as a musical conservative who was influenced by Beethoven, Schumann, and Weber.
The first movement begins with an orchestral opening that sounds somewhat march-like, until the horn enters with a more lyrical theme. The movement ends with a technical section. The Andante is lyrical, and highlights the aspects of horn playing that were known to be strengths of Franz Strauss: rich tone and melodic phrasing. The last movement is similar to the first, but includes more technical demand than the first.
— Note by Katharine G. McGovern College of Arts
ROBERT SCHUMANN: Fantasiestücke
Composed within the span of two days in February 1849, Robert Schumann’s Fantasiestücke (Fantasy Pieces) was originally written for clarinet and piano, with additional versions composed for cello with piano and violin with piano. It was arranged for horn and piano by Eric Ruske. It is comprised of three short movements, each depicting a specific mood or emotional state of mind. The first piece, titled “Tenderly and with expression,” begins in A minor with hints of melancholy but eventually brightens into A Major, creating a sense of hope and optimism. Schumann continues in the key of A Major for the second piece, “Lively, light,” and uses chromatic triplet figures in F Major between the horn and piano to create a playful dialogue. In the final piece, “Quick and with fire,” the feeling of inward reflection is interrupted by impetuous outbursts and accelerates into a triumphant close.
— Note from United States Marine Band
VALERIE COLEMAN: Tzigane
Tzigane is a high-charged, passionate journey through Eastern Europe, by way of the Romani. A tzigane is a Hungarian Gypsy.
— Note from Wind Repertory Project
